It’s hard for me on a personal level to get into bands that I don’t already love nowadays. The itching for more music from my favorite bands triumphs scouring the interweb for a new band that will probably get a couple listens. There are very few new bands I’ve discovered in the past year or so that are getting frequent listens, so when I stumbled upon guitar wizard Paul Wardingham (whose career is seemingly nonexistent in the big picture) and his solo project going by the same name, I had zero intentions on expecting his debut, Assimilate Regenerate, to be good beyond a couple listens. Especially for a shreddy instrumental album. Lo and behold, here I am listening to it on repeat. All 60 minutes of it.
If a giant correlation could be drawn to one band in the music industry, it would be melo-death giants Scar Symmetry, mostly their Holographic Universe release. The inspiration and similarity is clear as day here: futuristic synths, chunky death metal riffs rotating between soaring cosmic leads/solos and varying levels of aggression, harmony and chaos. The difference here is that Paul Wardingham doesn’t need vocals as a fallback for sub par musicianship or blazing fret masturbation to mend abysmal writing. All the mechanical skill is here in its purest form, ready to be digested for many, many listens. Toss all cheap gimmicks out the window as well becauseAssimilate Regenerate uses its well-placed synths (though sounding sometimes like a direct copy of Holographic Universe‘s synths) to add depth and character to each song, further evoking the style and theme of the album, rather than a cover up for sloppy or unimpressive playing.
01. Assimilate Regenerate
02. Futureshock
03. Ghost In The Machine
04. Brain Interactive Construct
05. Fields Of Utopia
06. Enter The Metaverse
07. Mindwarp
08. Clones
09. Cyber Warfare
10. Orbital Decay
11. Black Hole Device
Heartless are a foursome hailing from Italy who deliver a rather mixed bag of goodies on their first EP “Five Bullets In Your Heart”. Their sound is part glam and punk while their not shy of straying into NWOBH territory or delivering 70’s styled instrumental jams (including a short drum solo on “Rock Roll Dirty Dream”).
Since the whole affair is self financed and self produced it leaves room for improvement in the sound department.
The bass for example is way too upfront in the mix with the drums and guitar taking second place. And with guitarist Simo obviously having a talent for some interesting plank spanking it would be a shame if their next effort is “blessed” with the same muddy and thin production.
Opening this EP is “Baby Maybe Someday” a straight forward and simple punk rocker. With “Heartless” we stay in punk rock territory although the beat of this track is far more unsteady untill all of a sudden it goes into an unexpected, almost “Remember Tomorrow” (Iron Maiden) like direction, before picking up the pace again.
“Stolen By Summer” sees the band going for the acoustic guitar and gives singer Rob the chance to actually sing instead of screaming his lungs out. The guys keep things all mellow and quiet on the intro to the following “The End Of Summer” which is completely instrumental and a fine showcase of Simo’s guitar talent. After the short intro the drums, electric guitar and bass kick in and the guys start rockin’ out again.
Bringing the disc to an end is another punk laced cut entitled “Rock N Roll Dirty Dream” that as mentioned earlier features a drum solo. Quite unusual and a bit out of place if you ask me as it really doesn’t add anything to the song.
Coming up with different styles on a record (whether it’s a demo or an actual album) sure makes for interesting listening but jumping too much from one extreme to another can confuse the listerener. So my advice is to go for one style and add one other flavour to make it more interesting. That and enough budget for a real producer to come up with a good sounding set of songs and these guys could have a shot at securing a place in the rock ’n roll scene.
http://www.myspace.com/weareheartless
1. Baby Maybe Someday
2. Heartless
3. Stolen By Summer
4. The End Of Summer
5. Rock N Roll Dirty Dream
Inspired by the unexpected success of "Confessions", their first full length album of all original new material, the Swedish band Angeline now delivers the much anticipated follow-up "Disconnected". Angeline looks back on a vivid band history of more than two decades. After the band's foundation back in 1987, when most of the boys were still in their teens, they played their first gigs together. In the years to come they recorded a couple of demo songs with original singer Jörgen "Sigge" Sigvardsson and eventually released the Mini-LP "Don't Settle For Second Best" (1990) and the CD Single "Rain" (1994). Fate hit the band very hard when "Sigge" passed away in 1995 due to complications caused by a bad heart condition he had to live with all his life. With guitar player Jocke Nilsson taking over the lead vocals the band played as a full blown cover band for several years. In 1997 they even recorded an album of cover versions, which was produced by Mats Lindfors (Europe, The Poodles, H.E.A.T.), who had already overseen the recordings of an unreleased 3-track demo a couple of years earlier. After a couple of line-up changes during the 90's and the bi-annual Family Day that was held since 1997 in memory of the late vocalist Jörgen "Sigge" Sivardsson, it was
in 2007 when the former members of Angeline decided to perform a one-off show on this special day to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band. Much to their surprise they realised that a new generation of Angeline fans had grown. Based on this pleasant surprise the four began to write and record new songs which ultimately led to the release of "Confessions" in the spring of 2010, their first full length album of all original new material in more than twenty years.
"Disconnected" now picks up where "Confessions" left off and with only two albums under their belt the band has managed to create it's very own sound. It's a unique combination of Melodic Rock, a genre that was popular when Angeline first started out more than twenty years ago, with super catchy hooklines, multi layered harmonies in Harem Scarem fashion and a healthy dose of Modern Rock, which shows their wide range of influences from bands such as Daughtry, 3 Doors Down and the recent Bon Jovi albums and for good measure a bit of the Retro Hard Rock sound à la Airbourne and Bullet is added. The album features a crisp and powerful production by the band's guitarist Jocke Nilsson and a state-of-the-art mastering by Björn Engelmann (Stage Dolls, Wig Wam, Within Temptation, Friestedt-Williams). The band members are very proud of this Rock solid record and they are looking forward to present their new songs as part of their energetic live shows.
Band Angeline Info: Disconnected Years: 2011 Style: Melodic Hard Rock Info: MP3 CBR 320 kbps Info: Sweden Time: Avenue of Allies/GerMusica Info: 120 Mb
Tracklist:
01. When The Lights Go Down
02. Falling Into You
03. Take A Little Time
04. I Had Enough
05. Run Run Run
06. Found
07. Disconnected
08. In Times Like These
09. Solid Ground
10. If It’s The Last Thing I Do
11. First Time Around
12. Way Down
Swedish hard rockers BADMOUTH are back again this year with a new EP entitled "T ; Part Three Of H.A.T.E".
The guys have rocked the world with their critically acclaimed full length melodic hard rock album 'Heavy Metal Parking Lot' (already presented on this blog).
" T " is the 3rd part of a quadrology called H.A.T.E., where rock bands play their versions of songs written by Swedish singer-songwriter Sofia Talvik, a folk-rock oriented artist.
Badmouth has a very retro 80's melodic hard rock style on their own material, but for these tracks they've gone more to the late seventies, with a rough sound and a classic hard rock attack.
I never heard the original folk versions, but the band has really made the songs their own, and trust me, here's nothing folk related at all.
This is straight, in your face hard rock with melting guitar riffs, as heard on the fast paced "Dilusional" and "Circle Of Friends".
Anyway, the characteristic 'Badmouth sound' is present on the catchy "To Watch The Bridges Burn" and the really interesting "Jonestown", a tune with a very nice melodic line and radio-rock potential.
If you enjoyed Badmouth's 'Heavy Metal Parking Lot', this is a great opportunity to listen the band playing something different.
"T ; Part Three Of H.A.T.E" will please as well lovers of classy hard rock with strong riffage and attitude.
Despite the ugliest cover art in many years, "T" is filled with good rockin' music to bang your head for a while.
01 - Dilusional
02 - Circle Of Friends
03 - To Watch The Bridges Burn
04 - Jonestown
Tom Pearsson (Vocals)
Chris LeMon (Bass)
Mike Hill (Rhythm Guitar)
Randy Joy (Lead Guitar)
Vinnie Sharpe (drums)
Sweden
Hard Rock
256K
27 MB
Download By SAndford
EP
Outloud – Last Days Of December (2011)Single
Dec 20, 2011 10:19
Hard Rock
The melodic Rock quintet from Athens/Greece featuring guitarist/keyboardist Bob Katsionis (Firewind) and New York based singer Chandler Mogel, have just released a Christmas themed single named:
“Last Days Of December”.
Bob Katsionis comments on the song:
“People are getting so much negativity from everywhere these days. It’s like someone is trying to make the world feel empty and helpless, facing the problems of each country’s economy, criminality etc. At the same time,what you get from the Social Networks is mostly negative comments, trolling, absurdity, violence and people being more rude day by day. This is reflected on music as well. Bands are trying to be harder, heavier,meaner and more evil like there’s some short of hate-contest going on! What we tried to do with this song is to bring the rock and Heavy Metal world some melody,some peace, remind people that Love is the power that makes this world go round and contribute to the soundtrack of the Christmas Holiday Season with a song that we hope will stand the test of time. Christmas time doesn’t necessarily mean shopping and spending but also quality time with friends and family and the people we love and to be able to share some positive energy which is definitely missing nowadays.
Happy Holidays!”
The song is now available for purchase at your favorite digital download store (ITunes, Rhapsody, Amazon, etc.).
The song was written and produced and mixed by Bob Katsionis at Sound Symmetry Studio, Athens,Greece.
Middle guitar solo by Achilleas Diamantis
Vocals were recorded at PJB Productions,Verona, New Jersey,USA.
Drums were recorded at Basement Studio, Athens, Greece.
Year: 2011
Style: Melodic Hard Rock Country: Athens, Greece Format: mp3, 320kbps Size: 11 Mb
Tracklist:
01. Last Days Of December
Line-Up:
Chandler Mogel - Vocals Bob Katsionis – Lead Guitar & Keys Tony Kash – Guitars Sverd T. Soth – Bass Mark Cross – Drums
A Call To Arms – Peace Through Strength, Victory Through Devastation (2011)
Dec 19, 2011 21:05
Heavy Metal |Power Metal
True Thrash/Speed/Power metal band comprised of Nick Warhead and Dan Kobilka (Formerly of "Warhead" and "Twelve Gauge") on Guitar and Drums (respectively), Gene Vogel (Minnesota Metal Factory, Red Gem of Hades, Architecture of Fear) on Vocals and Amy Rapoport (formerly of Psychopathetic and ArcAngel) on Bass. ACTA strives to keep it old school, professing the tenets of a time long past, keeping the flame alive for thrash/speed metal.
1. Unleash Hell
2. Upcoming Epidemic
3. No New Revolution
4. Death From Above
5. The God Within
6. Parasite Season
7. Humungus
I started writing my own material about 8 years ago. This is my latest solo effort using an 8 string guitar. I write, record, and master all guitars, bass, synth, and vocals. Drums are sequenced by me using double bass mania one shot hits.
1. The Burning Cycle, 04:45
2. Remember The Fallen (feat. Matt O.), 05:50
3. The One Thing I Could Not Say, 04:01
4. Defined, 03:57
The Riot Soul are a hard rockin' group that formed in Helsinki, Finland in 2010. The band combines hard rockin' guitars, punky bass and screamy vocals for a blend that will knock your teeth in and make you bang your head until it rips off.
The songs take their inspiration from modern day anxiety and debauchery that makes it all easier to digest. All members -- Miika Kokko (vocals), Julian McGourty (guitar), Jani Mikael (bass) and Ozzy Perkkioare (drums) -- true rockers to whom making kickass tunes comes before puttin' make-up on unlike some bands of the rock genre nowadays. So ease the seat back, put the top down, pedal to the medal and get heavy with their tunes.
More information on The Riot Soul can be found at www.facebook.com/pages/The-Riot-Soul/148479228541566 and www.myspace.com/theriotsoulband.
Year: 2011 Style: Sleaze Hard Country: Helsinki, Finland Format: m4a, 256 kbps Size: 13 Mb
Tracklist:
1. Kill The Rock N’ Roll Star
2. SLaves & Harlots
Download
single
Cobra – Lethal Strike (2011)
Dec 19, 2011 13:19
Heavy Metal |Power Metal
The first strike of this Traditional Heavy Metal band from the filthy streets of Lima Hell! The best Heavy Metal album released during this millenium in South America!! This release brings back the old roughness and aggressiveness to Heavy Metal! WARRIORS OF THE UNDERGROUND, REAL HEAVY METAL IS BACK!!! One of the best in the Heavy metal scene! just pay a listen to them in www.myspace/australholocaustprods
1. Overwhelmed
2. Rockmetal
3. Men of War
4. Whitechapel
5. The Roadrunner (Bite My Dust)
6. Denim Attack
7. Blessed by Beer
8. Scene of Our End
9. Highland Warrior
